Two pro-Palestinian groups are planning to protest on the date of the anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The events being organised include a “vigil for Gaza” and a Free Palestine rally to mark one year since the “escalation of the genocide in Gaza.”
However, political leaders at the highest level, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, have suggested that these events should not proceed.
A spokesperson for Victoria Police told The Epoch Times that they would be present at rallies in the city on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7.
“Victoria Police respects the right to peaceful protest; however, any unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated,” police said.“Our top priority will be keeping the peace and ensuring the safety of those attending and the broader community.”
Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing at least 1,200 people and capturing 250 hostages, including women and children. Thousands have died in Gaza since.“The movement for justice for Palestine and human rights will come together outside the State Library of Victoria ... to rally against the ongoing Israeli occupation, genocide and crimes against humanity being committed against the Palestinian people for over 76 years,” the group said.
Meanwhile, Free Palestine Coalition Naarm Melbourne said the vigil would be held on Oct. 7 because the “military offensive should end, it should not enter a second year, with a second invasion, now of Lebanon.”However, Premier Allan told reporters people should not be protesting on that day, given it is a “very traumatic anniversary for all those involved in the conflict.”
“Whilst everyone has a right to protest peacefully, groups should reconsider the need to protest next week in respect to the grief it will cause Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Palestinian and Lebanese communities,” she said.
Albanese echoed this perspective during a doorstop interview on Oct. 2, stating that Oct. 7 was not an appropriate time for a protest.
“And so Oct. 7, I think, is not a time for demonstrations to occur, because it will be perceived as—whether that’s the intention or not—as being something that is less than an appropriate commemoration of the atrocity that occurred on Oct. 7, and it will do nothing to advance the cause, Oct. 7 is the largest loss of life of Jewish people since the Holocaust.”
Reporters also asked the prime minister if the Victorian government should consider protest permits.
Victoria Should Follow NSW: Opposition
The moves follow protesters displaying the flags of the terrorist group Hezbollah and allegedly chanting jihadist slogans on Sept. 29 in Sydney and Melbourne. This prompted Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to issue a deportation warning.Dutton suggested Victoria should follow New South Wales’s example and stop the protests.
“I hope that Victoria can follow suit with the New South Wales Police application to the court to stop what would be a grotesque gathering to celebrate the death, the slaughter of 1,200 people in Israel,” he said.
“That is not an anniversary that should be celebrated and people shouldn’t be triumphant, people shouldn’t be celebrating the life of a terrorist in Nasrallah, otherwise.”
Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto also suggested that Victoria introduce a permit system to stop the rallies.
